Note: "Possess" is defined by
General Statutes § 53a-3 (2) as "to have physical possession or otherwise to
exercise dominion or control over tangible property." A complete instruction on
possession may require explanations of constructive possession and nonexclusive
possession if relevant to the case. Tailor this instruction according to the
specific allegations of possession.

"Possession" means either actual
possession or constructive possession. Actual possession means actual physical
possession, such as having the object on one's person. Constructive possession
means having the object in a place under one's dominion and control.

Possession also requires knowledge.
The defendant must have knowingly possessed the (substance / object). A person
acts knowingly with respect to the possession of something when (he/she) is
aware that (he/she) is in possession of it and is aware of the character of it.
The state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knew that
(he/she) was in possession of a <insert substance or object allegedly
possessed>. <See
Knowledge, Instruction 2.3-3.>

[<If applicable:> "Possession"
does not mean that one must have the illegal (substance/object) upon one's
person. Rather, a person who, although not in actual possession, knowingly has
the power and the intention at a given time to exercise dominion or control over
a thing is deemed to be in constructive possession of that item. It means
having something under one's control or dominion. As long as the (substance /
object) is or was in a place where the defendant could, if (he/she) wishes, go
and get it, it is in (his/her) possession and that possession is illegal if the
defendant knew of the unlawful character of the (substance / object) and knew of
its presence.

Constructive possession may be
exclusive or shared by others.

The mere presence of the defendant at
<insert description of premises> where the (substance / object) is found
is not sufficient to support a finding of constructive possession. However,
presence may be a material and probative factor for you to consider along with
all of the other evidence.

The state has submitted evidence to
show that the defendant had control over the premises where the (substance /
object) was found. Control of the premises gives rise to the inference of
unlawful possession, and the mere access by others is insufficient to defeat
this inference.

If it is proven that the defendant is
the exclusive owner of the premises, then you may infer that (he/she) controlled
the premises. However, when it is shown that ownership or occupancy of the
premises is shared, you may no longer make this inference. The ability to
control the premises must be established by independent proof.]

Commentary

"In criminal law, the word
'possession' generally denotes an intentional control of a designated thing
accompanied by knowledge of its character. . . . Mere presence in the vicinity
of stolen property does not establish possession." (Citations omitted.)
State v. Kas, 171 Conn. 127, 130 (1976); see also State v. Gooden, 89
Conn. App. 307, 316-17, cert. denied, 275 Conn. 918-19 (2005) (reversed because
instruction failed to require knowledge of the character of the substance);
State v. Smith, 38 Conn. App. 29, 42 (1995) (court adequately explained that
possession "signifies intentional control of a designated thing accompanied by a
knowledge of its character").

"The essence of exercising control
is not the manifestation of an act of control but instead it is the act of being
in a position of control coupled with the requisite mental intent. In our
criminal statutes involving possession, this control must be exercised
intentionally and with knowledge of the character of the controlled object."
State v. Hill, 201 Conn. 505, 516 (1986); see also State v. Jarrett,
82 Conn. App. 489, 495-96, cert. denied, 269 Conn. 911 (2004) (instruction that
defendant must exercise direct control over the alleged contraband was
sufficient); State v. Respass, 256 Conn. 164, 181-84, cert. denied, 534
U.S. 1002, 122 S.Ct. 478, 151 L.Ed.2d 392 (2001) (control must be intentional);
State v. Fasano, 88 Conn. App. 17, 25, cert. denied, 274 Conn. 904
(2005), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 1101, 126 S.Ct. 1037, 163 L.Ed.2d 873 (2006)
("control of the object must be exercised intentionally").

Constructive possessionConstructive possession is
"possession without direct physical contact." State v. Davis, 84 Conn.
App. 505, 510, cert. denied, 271 Conn. 922 (2004). As with actual possession,
"it is necessary to establish that the defendant knew the character of the
substance, knew of its presence and exercised dominion and control over it."
Id. "One factor that may be considered in determining whether a defendant is in
constructive possession of narcotics is whether he is in possession of the
premises where the narcotics are found." State v. Smith, 94 Conn. App.
188, 193, cert. denied, 278 Conn. 906 (2006) (sufficient facts that defendant
had exclusive control of motor vehicle). "[O]ne who owns or exercises dominion
or control over a motor vehicle in which a contraband substance is concealed may
be deemed to possess the contraband." (Internal quotation marks omitted.)
State v. Delassantos, 211 Conn. 258, 277-78, cert. denied, 493 U.S. 866, 110
S.Ct. 188, 107 L.Ed.2d 142 (1989).

Nonexclusive possession"Where the defendant is not in
exclusive possession of the premises where the [illegal item is] found, it may
not be inferred that [the defendant] knew of the presence of the [illegal item]
and had control of [it], unless there are other incriminating statements or
circumstances tending to buttress such an inference. . . . The doctrine of
nonexclusive possession was designed to prevent a jury from inferring a
defendant's possession of [an illegal item] solely from the defendant's
nonexclusive possession of the premises where the [illegal item was] found. . .
. When the doctrine applies, an instruction focuses the jury's attention on the
defendant's knowledge and intent to possess, precluding it from inferring
possession from the mere fact that the defendant, along with others, occupied or
had access to the premises wherein the contraband was found." (Citations
omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) State v. Williams, 258 Conn.
1, 7-8 (2001). "The doctrine of nonexclusive possession provides that where
there exists access by two or more people to the [contraband] in question, there
must be something more than the mere fact that [contraband was] found to support
the inference that the [contraband was] in the possession or control of the
defendant. . . . Thus, the charge is appropriate in circumstances where the
defendant has possession of the premises along with at least one other
individual." (Citation omitted; internal quotation marks omitted.) Id., 11.
See also State v. Nesmith, 220 Conn. 628, 632-36 (1991) (evidence did not
support instruction on nonexclusive possession); State v. Alfonso, 195
Conn. 624, 634 (1985) (no circumstantial evidence from which the jury could
infer that defendant was aware of the presence of the marijuana in the
apartment); State v. Straub, 90 Conn. App. 147, 152-53, cert. denied, 275
Conn. 927 (2005) (sufficient that court instructed that possession required more
than mere presence); State v. Brunori, 22 Conn. App. 431, 436-37, cert.
denied, 216 Conn. 814 (1990) (discussing evidence sufficient to support
constructive possession of contraband found in a public place).